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Do you have a hard time comprehending archaic and obsolete words and syntax in the English language? Try the original languages or better yet, try comprehending the scholars, even the good ones at times.
"Scripture distinguishes the original documents from subsequent copies and translations.118 Still, while distinct in origin, this does not mean that copies and translations are without authority. Rather, it must simply be maintained that the original documents have primal or chief authority, and that copies and translations have derivative inspiration and, thus authority.119 That is, they derive their inspiration and authority from the original documents. Any appeal, then, to a copy or a translation of Scripture is authoritative because it assumes that the portion appealed to reflects the original text. Obviously, if such were not the case, the appeal would be devoid of authority.120
It is important to note, too, that no one copy or translation perfectly121 reflects the message (much less the words) of the original documents. This is the case simply because the original documents do not presently exist, and the extant manuscripts which do are, in each case, unique, no two fully agreeing in every detail. Therefore, without infallible criteria for determining original readings, infallible determinations of original readings are impossible. In sum, copies and translations are authoritative insofar as they faithfully reflect the message of the original text. And, insofar as they do, they may be called the Word of God.
118 This distinction is maintained on a number of further occasions besides those listed in the previous sections, cf. Deut. 17:18, Neh 8:8, Prov 25:1, Luke 4:16-21, Acts 17:2,11.
119 This is normally what people mean when they ask whether their Bibles are inspired (or even inerrant). Inspiration (and inerrancy) extends to copies and translations only, but nevertheless importantly, in this derivative sense. Derivative inspiration means that manuscripts and versions derive inspiration and authority from other copies in linear fashion, in a process that goes back eventually to the autographs themselves.
120 An interesting anecdote here is the so-called "Wicked Bible (1631), which was an edition of the KJV that inadvertently omitted the "not" in the seventh commandment. Transparently, any appeal to this erroneous text would be devoid of authority.
121 This is not to say that none does so adequately, for many do.
A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity, Volume One, Rolland McCune, p 97.
Professor McCune informs us that there is a distinction between the original documents from subsequent copies and translations. This difference can be described as the kinds of authority each has, the former having primal or chief authority and the latter having derivative authority. The practical difference? He doesn't say exactly. He does tell us a few things that are quite interesting, namely, "any appeal to a copy or translation of the Scripture is authoritative because it assumes that the portion appealed to reflects the original text" and "copies and translations are authoritative insofar as they faithfully reflect the message of the original text", but then also says, "no one copy or translation perfectly reflects the message (much less the words) of the original documents" although according to the Professor some copies and translations do reflect the message (and supposedly the words also) adequately. Which ones? He doesn't tell us. But hold the phone, the good Professor lets slip an enigma of immense proportions when he says, "no one copy or translation perfectly reflects the message (much less the words) because the original documents do not presently exist, therefore without infallible criteria for determining original readings, infallible determinations of original readings are impossible." Conclusion? John Bunyan was correct:
Both the scholar and Bunyan assume, as per Professor McCune, that their copy or translation goes back in linear fashion eventually to the autographs themselves. There no longer exists infallible criteria for determining original readings and infallible determinations of original readings are impossible. Thus, as per Professor McCune's argument as stated here, the English Scriptures have every wit the authority of extant, but non-original, original language manuscripts. This in direct contradiction to some of the scholars on this board.
But wait, there's more! Note the following verses that Professor McCune cited as proof:
The copy was the practical every day authority and not the autographs.
The book was not the autograph, yet in verse 1 it is called, "the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel."
Interesting proof text, because here we have a case where the COPY is the autograph! You paying attention? Did you also note that these COPIED proverbs were ADDED to the original Proverbs in the days of Hezekiah long after Solomon wrote originally?
Here we stumble upon the whopper! For here we have the Biblical declaration that Jesus read the Scripture, defined by Professor McCune (Ibid. p 92) as perfect, pure, right, pure, clean and true - in a word, inerrant. Yet, how can these thing be? Jesus was reading from a copy or translation of Isaiah! And hold the phone again, what Jesus read matches no extant copy of Isaiah exactly - perfectly as per Professor McCune. But there it is written in black and white: The book of the prophet Esaias...this SCRIPTURE!
Did Paul really do that? Not having the original? Why according to the scholars on this board the Scriptures are defined as a one time miraculous event happening sometime in the distant past 500-3000+ years before Paul was weaned off the teat. Remember this is that infamous γραφή (graphe) defined by Paul in 2Tim 3:16 as "given by inspiration of God". My, my, my, what a proof text!
Did they really? They really searched the Scriptures and that daily? They all had a copy of the autographs? No, of course not! But they did have a copy of the Scriptures defined as "given by inspiration of God". Again, this is that infamous γραφή (graphe) defined by Paul in 2Tim 3:16 as "given by inspiration of God". My, my, my, what a proof text!
I'll conclude with another quote from Professor McCune:
"(1) God's word (i.e. His communication) is completely truthful and inerrant; (2) the Bible is God's Word; (3) therefore, the Bible is completely truthful and inerrant. In short, the kind of Bible one believes in is directly proportionate to the kind of God one believes in." Ibid. pg 92
What kind of Bible do you read?
"Scripture distinguishes the original documents from subsequent copies and translations.118 Still, while distinct in origin, this does not mean that copies and translations are without authority. Rather, it must simply be maintained that the original documents have primal or chief authority, and that copies and translations have derivative inspiration and, thus authority.119 That is, they derive their inspiration and authority from the original documents. Any appeal, then, to a copy or a translation of Scripture is authoritative because it assumes that the portion appealed to reflects the original text. Obviously, if such were not the case, the appeal would be devoid of authority.120
It is important to note, too, that no one copy or translation perfectly121 reflects the message (much less the words) of the original documents. This is the case simply because the original documents do not presently exist, and the extant manuscripts which do are, in each case, unique, no two fully agreeing in every detail. Therefore, without infallible criteria for determining original readings, infallible determinations of original readings are impossible. In sum, copies and translations are authoritative insofar as they faithfully reflect the message of the original text. And, insofar as they do, they may be called the Word of God.
118 This distinction is maintained on a number of further occasions besides those listed in the previous sections, cf. Deut. 17:18, Neh 8:8, Prov 25:1, Luke 4:16-21, Acts 17:2,11.
119 This is normally what people mean when they ask whether their Bibles are inspired (or even inerrant). Inspiration (and inerrancy) extends to copies and translations only, but nevertheless importantly, in this derivative sense. Derivative inspiration means that manuscripts and versions derive inspiration and authority from other copies in linear fashion, in a process that goes back eventually to the autographs themselves.
120 An interesting anecdote here is the so-called "Wicked Bible (1631), which was an edition of the KJV that inadvertently omitted the "not" in the seventh commandment. Transparently, any appeal to this erroneous text would be devoid of authority.
121 This is not to say that none does so adequately, for many do.
A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity, Volume One, Rolland McCune, p 97.
Professor McCune informs us that there is a distinction between the original documents from subsequent copies and translations. This difference can be described as the kinds of authority each has, the former having primal or chief authority and the latter having derivative authority. The practical difference? He doesn't say exactly. He does tell us a few things that are quite interesting, namely, "any appeal to a copy or translation of the Scripture is authoritative because it assumes that the portion appealed to reflects the original text" and "copies and translations are authoritative insofar as they faithfully reflect the message of the original text", but then also says, "no one copy or translation perfectly reflects the message (much less the words) of the original documents" although according to the Professor some copies and translations do reflect the message (and supposedly the words also) adequately. Which ones? He doesn't tell us. But hold the phone, the good Professor lets slip an enigma of immense proportions when he says, "no one copy or translation perfectly reflects the message (much less the words) because the original documents do not presently exist, therefore without infallible criteria for determining original readings, infallible determinations of original readings are impossible." Conclusion? John Bunyan was correct:
A university man met Bunyan on the road near Cambridge. Said he to Bunyan, “How dare you preach, not having the original Scriptures?†“Do you have them–the copies written by the apostles and prophets?†asked Bunyan. “No,†replied the scholar. “But I have what I believe to be a true copy of the original.†“And I,†said Bunyan, “believe the English Bible to be a true copy, too.†John Bunyan The Immortal Dreamer, W. Burgess McCreary, The Warner Press, 1928, pg. 38
Both the scholar and Bunyan assume, as per Professor McCune, that their copy or translation goes back in linear fashion eventually to the autographs themselves. There no longer exists infallible criteria for determining original readings and infallible determinations of original readings are impossible. Thus, as per Professor McCune's argument as stated here, the English Scriptures have every wit the authority of extant, but non-original, original language manuscripts. This in direct contradiction to some of the scholars on this board.
But wait, there's more! Note the following verses that Professor McCune cited as proof:
- Deut. 17:18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
The copy was the practical every day authority and not the autographs.
- Neh 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
The book was not the autograph, yet in verse 1 it is called, "the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel."
- Prov. 25:1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Interesting proof text, because here we have a case where the COPY is the autograph! You paying attention? Did you also note that these COPIED proverbs were ADDED to the original Proverbs in the days of Hezekiah long after Solomon wrote originally?
- Luke 4:16-21 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Here we stumble upon the whopper! For here we have the Biblical declaration that Jesus read the Scripture, defined by Professor McCune (Ibid. p 92) as perfect, pure, right, pure, clean and true - in a word, inerrant. Yet, how can these thing be? Jesus was reading from a copy or translation of Isaiah! And hold the phone again, what Jesus read matches no extant copy of Isaiah exactly - perfectly as per Professor McCune. But there it is written in black and white: The book of the prophet Esaias...this SCRIPTURE!
- Acts 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Did Paul really do that? Not having the original? Why according to the scholars on this board the Scriptures are defined as a one time miraculous event happening sometime in the distant past 500-3000+ years before Paul was weaned off the teat. Remember this is that infamous γραφή (graphe) defined by Paul in 2Tim 3:16 as "given by inspiration of God". My, my, my, what a proof text!
- Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Did they really? They really searched the Scriptures and that daily? They all had a copy of the autographs? No, of course not! But they did have a copy of the Scriptures defined as "given by inspiration of God". Again, this is that infamous γραφή (graphe) defined by Paul in 2Tim 3:16 as "given by inspiration of God". My, my, my, what a proof text!
I'll conclude with another quote from Professor McCune:
"(1) God's word (i.e. His communication) is completely truthful and inerrant; (2) the Bible is God's Word; (3) therefore, the Bible is completely truthful and inerrant. In short, the kind of Bible one believes in is directly proportionate to the kind of God one believes in." Ibid. pg 92
What kind of Bible do you read?